Fe-Cr-B alloy is a material with precipitation of boride inside Fe
matrix, and it features outstanding hardness and wear resistance
properties. However, Fe-Cr-B alloy is a difficult material to process,
making it difficult to use as a bulk type structure material which
requires delicate shapes. This study attempted to manufacture Fe-Cr-B
alloy using a 3D printing process, laser metal deposition. This study
also investigated the microstructure, hardness and compression
properties of the manufactured alloy. Phase analysis results is
confirmed that α-Fe phase as matrix and (Cr, Fe)2B phase as
reinforcement phase. In the case of (Cr, Fe)2B phase, differences were
observed according to the sample location. While long, coarse,
unidirectional needle-type boride phases (~11 μm thickness) were
observed in the center area of the sample, relatively finer boride
phases (~6 μm thickness) in random directions were observed in other
areas. At room temperature compression test results confirmed that the
sample had a compression strength is approximately 2.1 GPa, proving that
the sample is a material with extremely high strength. Observation of
the compression fracture surface identified intergranular fractures in
areas with needle-type boride, and transgranular fractures in areas with
random borides. Based on this results, this study also reviewed the
deformation behavior of LMD Fe-Cr-B alloy in relation to its
microstructures.